Flash light



June 16, 1931. s, LYHNE 1,810,524

FLASH LIGHT Filed Oct. 50, 1929 gvmntoc M4, mQw/gu Patented June 1 6, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANKER S. LYHNE, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT; THE BB-IDGEPORT-CITY TRUST CO., 013

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, EXECUTOR OF SAID ANKER S. LYHNE, DECEASED, AS- SIG-NOR TO. THE BRIDGEPORT METAL GOODS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT FLASH LIGHT Application filed October 30, 1929. Serial No. 403,436.

This invention relates to flash lights and although illustrated as applied to the so-. called pen type that may be easily carr ed in a pocket, it isequally adapted for use in the larger sizes of flash lights, and has for an object to provide an improved construction which is extremely simple in operation and in which the circuit can not be accidentally closed by hitting or pressing on one end but in which the circuit is closed and opened by a rotary motion of a cap at one end.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view,.this invention comprises certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as set forth, disclosed and claimed in the following specification considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of this invention.

'Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the bulb or light end of the flashlight, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other end of the flashlight. The main casing 10, which may be of the usual form, is here shown as being in the shape or design of a pocket fountain pen hav ing a clip 11 for holding it in a pocket, the casing 10 being made of metal and so is of electrical conducting material. One end of the casing carries a bulb socket 12 formed at the inner end of a reflector 13, and the casing 10 is rolled over into a bead 14 at the outer edge of the reflector 13 to secure the reflector and socket in place and to make a good connection for a current to flow between the casing 10 and socket 12. A bulb or lamp 15 of usual form is screwed into socket 12, having one contact in its threaded shell 16 and the other or central contact at 17 against which the top contact 18 of a tubular battery 19 engages. The battery 19 is of the usual form having an insulating paper or fibre shell 20 about it which serves to prevent the battery from being grounded through its sides to the casing 10 and has a bare bottom or end wall 21 so that the circuit may be closed therethrough by an appropriate switch.

The end of the casing 10 may extend beyond the bottom-21 of the battery 19 and is threaded at 22 so as to receive either internally or externally, the threaded portion 23 of a cap 24 knurled as at 25 for easier turning operation. Placed Within cap 24 between the inside of the cap and the bottom 21 of the battery is a recessed block 26 formed of insulating material such as wood or phenolic condensite or other material, and a spring 27 received in a recess 28 serves to yieldingly press the block 26 against the bottom 21 of the battery to thereby hold the battery contact 18 in good contact with the bulb contact 17. Aflixed to the cap 24 is a contact member 30 passing through an axial perforation in the block 26 and having an enlarged head 31 received in the recess 32 in the block. In assembling the device, the contact 30 may be passed through block 26 and spring 27 having been put in place in recess 28, the end of the contact 30 is afiixed as by riveting to the cap at 33 so as to make a good electrical connection thereto.

In operation, the bulb 15 and battery 19 being in place in the usual way, the assembled cap 24 is then screwed onto the end of casing 10 until block 26 abuts against the bottom 21 of the battery and holds the battery in firm contact with the bulb contact 17. The flash light is then in out or off position. To close the circuit and turn on the light, the cap 24 is grasped by the knurled portion 25 and screwed on until the contact head 31 comes in contact with the bottom 21 of the battery to close the circuit therethrough and through the cap and casing to the bulb to thus put the light on. To turn it off, it is only necessary to unscrew the cap until the contact head 31 no longer touches bottom 21 of the battery, while spring 27 through block 26 serves to hold the battery in proper position against the bulb and out of engagement with contact 31. Due to the fact that the switch mechanism closes the circuit by a relative twisting motionv of the contact head 31 and battery bottom 21, a good wiping contact is formed between the battery and cap thus keeping the contact clean and in good operating condition.

' Although shown as being in the shape of a fountain pen, it will be noted that this invention may be applied to any size of flashlight Construction especially of the type where it is desired to have the light operate continuously for some time and not in mere intermittent flashes, although it can be so used. A light constructed according to this invention can not be accidently lighted by pressing or hitting any part or end thereof, and the circuit can only be closed by a deliberate twisting or rotary motion of the cap. Flashlights constructed as shown may be carried in the pocket as easily as a fountain pen, and are especially used by physicians in making throat examinations, as well as by others needing a steady, continuous light. It will be apparent that the device is extremely simple in construction and is positive in operation.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a flashlight construction, a switch mechanism comprisin a battery casing having a circuit path to the bulb, screw threads on said casing, a correspondingly threaded cap having an insulating block therein, a contact member allixed in said cap and passing freely through a perforation in said block, a head on said contact member received in a recess in said block and of larger diameter than the perforation in the block and adapted to form an electrical connection with the battery and limit movement of the block away from the cap, and a spring pressing said block away from said cap toward the battery.

2. In a flashlight having a battery casing of conducting material and a bulb socket grounded therein, a switch mechanism comprising a cap threaded on said casing, an insulating block in said cap, yielding means holding the block against the battery, and a contact member secured to said cap and passing through said block, said contact being adapted to close the circuit by engaging a battery contact by turning movement of the cap on the casing, and means securing the block to the cap whereby the block, spring and contact are remo able from the casing as a. unit with the cap and movement of the block by the spring is limited.

3. In a flashlight, a rotary switch mechanism comprising a cap threaded on the flashlight casing, an insulation block in said cap yielding means in said cz p pressing said block against the battery and a contact member passing through said block and capable of closing the circuit when the cap is rotated, said contact limiting movement of the block under the influence of the yielding means.

4. A flashlight comprising a conductor casing to receive a battery therein, a bulb socket grounded to said casing at one end to receive a bulb and hold it in contact with one pole of the battery, a cap threaded to said casing at the other end, an insulation block in said cap,

yielding means holding said block against the battery to press the battery against the bulb, and a contact aflixed to said cap to close the circuit through said battery by turning movement of the cap on the casing, and means securing said block in the cap and limiting its movement under the influence of the yielding means.

5. A flashlight comprising a conductor casing to hold a battery therein, a bulb socket grounded thereto, a cap threaded to said casing, a recessed, perforated insulation block therein between the battery and said cap, yielding means in said cap pressing the block against the battery to hold it in contact with the bulb, and a contact in said cap passing through the block and adapted to. close or open the circuit through the battery by relative turning movements of the cap and casing, said contact having an enlarged portion limiting movement of the block in one direction.

6. A flashlight comprising a metal casing, a lamp mounted in and grounded on the easing at one end, a battery in the casing having one pole electrically connected with the lamp, a metal cap threaded on the other end of the casing, a contact carried by the cap and adapted to engage the other pole of the battery, an insulating block slidable on said contact toward and from the cap and engaging the end of the battery, and a spring tending to force the block away from the cap and against the battery.

7. A flashli ht comprising a metal casing, a lamp mounted in and grounded on the easing at one end, a battery in the casing and having one pole electrically connected with the lamp, a metal cap threaded on the other end of the casing, a contact carried by the cap and adapted to engage the other pole of the battery, an insulating block slidable on said contact toward and from the cap and engaging the end of the battery, said block having a recess in each of its ends, a spring extending into one of said recesses and tending to force the block away from the cap and against the battery, and said contact carried by the cap having an enlarged portion entering the other recess in the block.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANKER S. LYHNE. 

